Arlene Benally began weaving at the age of five, learning by watching her mother and grandmother work on large looms and teaching herself their techniques. In her family, weaving was both an artistic practice and an essential part of daily life. As a young girl, Arlene made small weavings on simple looms built from sticks she gathered outdoors that were traded for food and other necessities, helping to feed the family. 

Arlene’s weaving is deeply connected to sheep, wool, and the landscape. Her family raised and herded sheep, and she learned to card, spin, and dye wool, beginning around six. She would often herd the sheep with her sister, taking wool to card and prepare for weaving with her while out on the landscape. She and her family also dyed their wool with natural materials, gathering plants from the hills surrounding Kaibeto to create greens, reds, and browns.  They also mixed the natural colors of the black, brown and white sheep’s wool tighter to create different tonalities and colors. 

  
Today, Arlene continues to weave daily, carrying forward knowledge passed down through generations. She is also a Navajo language teacher at Shonto Preparatory School, where she shares language and cultural knowledge, including weaving, with the next generation. Her life and work reflect a deep connection between family, land, language, and the enduring practice of making.